Browsing Tag

Frontier

Indigenous no-state people

Myanmar Army takes over HQ of NSCN-K rebels

by Monoj Anand

Guwahati: The ongoing war against terrorism is not only restricted to northern frontier but the anti-terrorism diplomacy of the Indian government has started paying dividend on the Eastern frontier as well with Myanmar Army taking over the physical control of NSCN-K headquarters and driving out Indian terrorists from Taga area of Myanmar.

Over 500 security personnel of Myanmar Army have dismantled the hideouts of Indian insurgent groups and taken over physical control of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) headquarters last week, authoritative security sources said that the Myanmar Army has taken this step after NSCN-K refused to follow the order of the Myanmar Army to drive out all the non-citizen terrorists and armed rebels from their camps.

Pointing out that steps of Myanmar has scattered the Indian insurgent groups who were operating from Taga, security sources said that the Myanmar Army has also confiscated a large number of arms and ammunition from the insurgents who have taken shelter in forest areas.

Admitting that the Myanmar Army has not resorted to aggressive military action on insurgents, security sources said that the rebels have been told to return to India instead of trying to set up fresh shelters in Myanmar.

It is significant that most of the active militant groups of the Northeast have bases in Myanmar and are using the facilities of NSCN (K). Though, the exact number of militants now in Myanmar is yet to be ascertained, the security agencies believe that at least 2,000 cadres of active militant groups are still holed up in the neighbouring country. They include around 150 members of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) and around 100 cadre of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (S).

About the recent media report which indicated the death of a few top Ulfa-I leaders in Myanmar Army’s operations, sources said that they are yet to ascertain claims of Ulfa-I chief Paresh Baruah who said that his top commander Jytirmoy Asom was killed in the operation by the Myanmar Army. Sources, however, said that some Ulfa-I commanders are reported to have died due to prolonged illness.

Informing that the Myanmar government is keeping India informed about their action against terrorists, sources said that the Myanmar Army has already occupied a number of outposts and training schools in their crackdown to ensure a total prevention of illegal armed insurgent groups infiltrating into Burmese soil.

Admitting that Ulfa-I chief Paresh Baruah has been trying to motivate its cadres not to leave Myanmar, sources said that it would be difficult for Ulfa-I and NDFB leadership to hold back their cadres in the present circumstances.